Category: Campus Life

By Abdullateef Otuyiga, UDUS

Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS) witnessed a heavy rainfall which damaged some of its  properties and shops on campus.

The rain, which started around 10:30pm penultimate Saturday, came with thunderstorm that destroyed hostel roofs, lecture halls and other buildings within the university.

CAMPUSLIFE gathered that  some blocks in Jibril Aminu hostel,   Zamfara hostel, Kwankwasiyya (Kano-House) Hostel, DVC Mosque, MH2 lecture hall, Student Union hostel shop corridor, security station, and some private shops at the hostel mini mart were also affected.

Mallam Isa, one of the affected shop owners, said the rain met him unprepared and he needed to stay awake to take care of his goods.

Read Also: One dies, over 70 houses destroyed in Ondo rainstorm

“It was time for me to sleep around 11pm when the  storm began  with a heavy rainfall. Immediately, I ran inside my shop thinking it would soon stop, but to my surprise, it rained till dawn. I needed to stay awake till it stopped to take care of my goods,’’ he said.

Similarly, the chairman of shop owners in the hostel mini-mart, Mallam Bashir, noted that efforts were made by shop owners to pack  their belongings and those of students kept with them before the school was shut down in March from the affected shops.

His words: “ The next day, after the rain, we moved our things and students’ belongings with us to a more secure place. Speaking after inspecting the damge, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Sulaiman Bilbis, accompanied by the Dean, Students’ Affairs, Prof. Aminu Mode, described the destruction as  “colossal” and promised to rehabilitate the damaged structures. Meanwhile, work has begun  at the time of writing this report.

By Hamzat Ameenat Aderayo

It’s not just today that some of our parents tell their girl-child that she belongs to her husband’s kitchen and she is created mainly to make babies and maintain a family. Therefore, they don’t think it’s necessary for them to spend much on themselves. This made them withdraw them or limit their education. Some of them don’t even get  enrolled in school at all where they can be taught moral values.

However, early marriages or child marriage is a worldwide problem that comes with health and social implications. It is, therefore, defined as the marriage or union between two people in which one or both parties are below the age of 18. Girls as young as nine are being denied of sound education and splendid childhood memories. As soon as they reach puberty, they will be introduced to men old enough to be their father as husbands to marry.

Victims of early marriage are mostly between the ages of nine and 19, which is known as the adolescent age, according to the World Health Organisation. This stage is a crucial stage in the life of a child, especially a girl-child. At that point, she is vulnerable to early marriage and sexual relationships.

Parents often feel that a girl is an economic burden and they start to think that marrying them off is the best option before she becomes mature. Apart from that, some parents marry their girls off because of the taboos and religious sanction against pre-marital sexual relations.

Due to the state of the nation, alongside other factors, the rate of child or early marriage is higher in developing countries.

In Nigeria, 43 percent of girls are married off before the age of 18 while 17 percent  before the age of 15, according to a report provided by UNICEF in 2017. Thus, Nigeria is ranked the 11th nation with a high percentage of child marriage.

Also, the prevalence of child marriage varies from region to region with 76 percent in the  Northwestern region and as low as 10 percent in the Southwest region. In the northern part of Nigeria, child marriage is seen as a culture. It is believed that girls that marry after the age of 18 can become promiscuous while some believe that marrying their children off is a means of making money because of the bride price and other items they will collect.

To be candid, Nigeria is more of a patriarchal society which means it’s male-dominated. The social, economic and political sectors of the country are mostly dominated by the male gender, making it difficult for girls to aspire for higher positions in the government. As a result of this, their parents prevent them from acquiring secondary or tertiary education because they know  getting a well-paid job is strenuous in a setting like ours.

However, the ignorance of our parents  on the dangers  of early marriage is also part of the factors contributing to the problem. They feel marrying them off will relieve them of poverty, not knowing they are neglecting their responsibility as a parent which is to groom their children irrespective of their gender to be great leaders and prominent people.  Some believe it’s Sunnah practising child marriage, I must say, they don’t even understand the basis of the religion not to talk of practising it rightly. They are  just satisfying themselves and manifesting their personal desires.

The government also has a role it’s playing, they don’t provide for the citizens and all they promise,they don’t fulfill. If poor parents are adequately empowered, they wont go around trading their children for money.

To cut the long story short, the problems these girls face after their marriages are so bad that it even cost some of them their life. Almost all of them face social, psychological, and health  problems. Socially, they will be isolated because of low confidence. They won’t be able to meet up with societal standards, because of that their husbands will abandon them and get an educated wife to take around. What of limited education?  The victims get limited education and some of them don’t even get a chance to go to school and this puts a limit to their exposure to various career opportunities and vocational developments. All they do is to make babies and breastfeed them.

Furthermore, this so-called early marriage places children at an increased risk of experiencing domestic violence, and exposes them to life-threatening diseases such as obstetric Fistula, malnutrition, premature birth, stillborn, various types of STDs (HIV/AIDS and the rest), psychological trauma and even suicide.

Therefore, addressing the issue of child marriage among teenagers is necessary not only for personal reasons but to attain global goals. Parents, guardians should be educated and enlightened on the dangers of early marriage and also, they should be empowered and catered for so that they won’t make excuse that poverty is responsible for their actions.

The government should also make sure  the Child Right Act of 2003 is enforced across the country. Punishment  should be meted out to  anyone who tries to violate the law and they should be brought to book. This will not only reduce suicide or infant mortality rate but also restore their right to education.

• Hamzat Ameenat Aderayo is in ND 1 Mass Communication at The Polytechnic, Ibadan

By Agha Sunday Inya, UNN

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Prof Charles Igwe, has begun the construction of students’ hostel with a capacity of over 12,000 bed spaces to mark his first anniversary in office.

He also inaugurated a multi-million naira complex to house archaeological artefacts of the Department of Archaeology and Tourism.

Igwe said that the hostel project, constructed under Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement, was in line with his promise to prioritise student welfare.

“The hostel project fits into my strategy of involving private sector to upgrade infrastructure in the university”, the Vice-Chancellor said.

Prof. Igwe said that the first phase of the project had already started and it would involve the construction of six hostel blocks which are expected to be ready by first quarter of 2021.

Read Also: UNIBEN to proceed on vacation for hostel renovations

He said that the project was coming at a time the university management was planning how to manage students’ accommodation against the backdrop of COVID-19 pandemic.

While thanking the management of Viagem Property and Investment Ltd for undertaking the hostel project, Igwe said he was open to collaborate with other investors who would be interested in doing business with the university.

The Managing Director of Viagem Investment Property Ltd, Evangelist Chijioke Okonkwo, explained that ongoing first phase of the hostels would house 6,800 bed spaces and it would be ready under 18 months.

“The target is achievable despite COVID-19 delay. We will deliver and deliver strongly”, Okonkwo who was represented by his Technical Officer, Engineer Emmanuel Ogbuu  said.

The Dean, Student Affairs, Prof Edwin Omeje, thanked the VC for his interest in student welfare, stating that the last time a new block was laid for students’ hostel in the university was 42 years ago.

Meanwhile, the Head, Department of Archaeology and Tourism, Prof. Anselm  Ibeanu while receiving the commissioned   Archaeology Museum, thanked the Vice-Chancellor for ensuring the completion of the building which had stagnated since 2005.   He said that the project would announce tourism in the University of Nigeria.

With no date fixed yet for  the re-opening of schools across the country, online classes are expected to be fully operational but it has been a mixed grill of experiences for students across various tertiary institutions, ELIZABETH FADEYI (IBADANPOLY) and GIFT ADAH(UNICAL) report.

 

Following the closure of schools at all levels due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the government mandated tertiary institutions to activate virtual learning.

Nevertheless, the virtual learning infrastructure of most public tertiary institutions in the country leave much to be desired as private institutions have largely proved to be ahead.

Various online platforms such as Google Classrooms, Google Meets, Zoom and others are being deployed to cover lost grounds in schools that have functional e-learning facilities.

However, students have complained about the high cost of data, poor network, poor handling of course content among others as the bane of virtual learning.

 

Students decry ineffective virtual learning

Olushola David,  an Accounting  student of the Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, said though they were being taught online, it had not been helpful because Accounting courses are  mathematical in nature, hence, they need better explanation for them to fully understand.

But it is sad that lecturers only record voice notes and send them pictures and expect them to study and understand by themselves.

He added that getting focused seems difficult as there  are several cases too where three lecturers will be teaching them online at the same time through different means.

Another student, Ojewuyi Emmanuel, who studies Mass Communication at  the Gateway Polytechnic, noted that online classes  hold  partially in the  department because lecturers don’t really turn up.

But when they finally hold classes, students are left to contend with a truckload of assignments which makes it difficult for them to prepare for the next class.

He said: “Lecturers don’t show up for the classes when they ought to. But when they do, they leave students with a whole lot of assignments such that it is difficult to read and prepare for the next class.

The school management should be a lot stricter with the way they handle it so that we can achieve something with the medium as no one knows when school will resume. They should also plan and create a better platform that will aid the learning process.”

For Adebayo Falilat, a 400 level Accounting student of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, the online lectures started very well as lecturers took attendance seriously and gave assignments. before.

However,students started complaining of data costs, epileptic power supply and time-consuming lectures online.Thus,lecturers were asked to stop due to the complaints.

“The online lectures started very well for us. We always looked forward to them not until students started complaining of high data costs, poor electricity and spending too much of their time online. The complaints made the lecturers to stop,” she said.

According to Bello Opeyemi,  a  300 level student in the Department of Local Government Studies, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife laziness and lack of dedication on the part of the students caused the cancellation of online lectures.

He said: ‘’Students didn’t embrace the idea. When lectures started, the attendance was so low that, after some time, they had to stop. The students are lazy. They had lecturers waiting to teach them, but their nonchalant attitude made the lecturers to stop.”

Aside the nonchalant attitude of students, Taiwo Florence,  a 400 level Economics student of Tai Solarin University of Education,  said the online class at her department has not been  encouraging at all.

According to her, lecturers are not turning up to teach the students during this period, and most of the students too are not bothered about it.

 

E-learning not operating in some schools

While it is operating in some institutions but not effective, there is no provision for it in some schools. According to Omolere Gift, a 100 level Mass Communication student of Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, the school management did not make provision for  online classes despite the directive of  the Federal Government.

“There is no provision for online learning in our school despite the government’s order to schools,” she said.

Odegbohun  Williams,  a 300 level student of Electrical Electronics at the Federal University of Technology, Akure, said with the ongoing ASUU strike, online classes were a pipedream. He noted that they almost had an online practical, but due to poor infrastructure, the move crashed.

In the same vein, Adigun Fiyin, a 100 level Performing Arts  student of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, said no provision was made  for online classes. She noted that no reason was given by the school management.

Also at the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, e-learning is not operating. According to Wahab Suliat, a 100 level Biochemistry student, online lectures which would have been a perfect opportunity to cover lost grounds were not being activated.

She said:“We are  not lucky enough to have access to the online class which is an opportunity to continue learning even though we are not in the school environment. The lecturers and management are not saying anything about it and steps are not taken to activate it.”

Damilola Adenike, 300 level Microbiology, Adekunle Ajasin  University, Akungba, Ondo State, said there was no online class or lecture in the school, adding that the government really needs to invest more and be serious about the educational sector.

Olajumoke Samson, a 300 level Mass Communication student of the Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara State, noted that first semester examinations had been concluded  before the outbreak of the pandemic in Nigeria and holidays had begun when the government ordered the closure of schools across the country. He said plans were underway on how to start virtual lectures.

At  the University of  Lagos, online classes have not begun according to Shittu Mariam, a 100 level Mass Communication student.

“We  haven’t started online classes. Ever since the closure of schools by the government, nothing has been done,though notice was sent to all departments,” she disclosed.

 

Smooth-sailing for private universities

Oketokun Itunuoluwa , a 400 level Economics student of Crawford University, said online classes were effective in the  institution.

“We observe the class every week. Nothing is missed even though we’re out of school. There is also effective communication even among the students.

All necessary tests and assignments are  conducted during the online class. Our lecturers turned up. Any lecturer that won’t be available will inform us prior to the time and the class will be rescheduled to a more-convenient time for the parties involved,” she noted.

Corroborating the above, Babalola Jenyokale, a 400 level Microbiology student of Covenant University, is delighted with the lectures and the content.

He said: “Lecturers in the school have been diligent with e- learning.The lectures are almost equivalent to being in a physical class. They  give out assignments after every session of the class. Students also have notes to read.”

Also, Akinsanya Temiloluwa, a final year Civil Engineering student at  the Landmark University, Omu Aran, Kwara, is pleased with the online lectures in the school, noting that they have been very effective.

She said: “Lecturers teach at the right time just like the normal class. Attendance is also taken seriously. Assignments are given  at the end of each class with deadline while students do a follow-up on the courses. Tests are also done.

Gabriel Matthew, a student of Caleb University, said they had online lectures and written exams online. All these were made possible because of the good facilities for online learning in the school.

While lauding online classes, Kingsley Faith, a 100 level student of History, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, said:”The online lectures have  really  helped, although they cannot be compared with physical classrooms. The lecturers are really trying their best. The new method adopted to continue the learning process is great.”

 

Effective in some public tertiary institutions

According to Ajewole Samuel, a year one Marketing student of the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Ogun State, the classes have been hitch-free with lecturers also demonstrating utmost commitment.

“There are no lapses at all, the lecturers take attendance as this ensures students attend and participate regularly. It is not by just dropping names, they have to participate in everything, either by asking questions or giving answers to the questions posed to them. Assignments are also given to keep them busy and  prepare them for the next class,” he said.

Another student, Imhagbe Ephraim, a 200 level Electrical Electronics student of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, said online classes were worthwhile. He added that staying at home and learning have helped students to be productive.

For Tade Williams, a 400 level student of Public Administration at the  Polytechnic, Ile-Ife, online classes have been up to standard.

He said:“Both lecturers and students are turning up perfectly for the online class. A new time-table was designed so that two lectures won’t be holding at the same time and it is strictly followed by everyone.

If a lecturer won’t be available he fixes other lecturer to his time so that lapses will be closed up. Even with the pandemic, students continue to learn as lectures are on everyday except  weekends and public holidays.

They also give out assignment, this serves as a feedback to the lecturers and has greatly aided the students’ learning. The classes are more like the ones we  had back then on campus because it is always interactive.”

Similarly, Adams Bright, a 400 level Microbiology student at  the Lagos State University, hailed the online learning operational in the school.

He said:“Lecturers are trying their best in making sure that they enjoy the class and always have a smooth learning platform in the course of taking them.

They make it seem we are in the normal learning environment. This seems so encouraging as students do look forward to having another session with lecturers.

They are being engaged in all the courses they are offering. They take them in classes at the right time, give out assignment to students making the class interactive enough for students to even ask questions. And now we  have almost covered most of the courses.”

Imposed to contain the spread of the Coronavirus, the lockdown in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Lagos and  Ogun for almost five weeks affected the research works of some varsity lecturers. ABDULSALAM MAHMUD reports.

Following the rising cases of COVID-19 in the  country, President Muhammadu Buhari, on March 30, approved the lockdown of Abuja, Lagos and Ogun states, places with alarming cases of the  virus.

Buhari noted that the stay-at-home directive was imperative as part of measures to combat the spread of the disease ravaging the world. Some governors also ordered the lockdown of their states, in a bid to stem the community spread of the pandemic. Howevervarsity lecturers across tertiary institutions have unanimously lamented how the lockdown disrupted the researches they had embarked upon.

UNIUYO

Dr. Moses Ekong, a Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Uyo (UNIUYO), Akwa Ibom State, decried the negative impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on the research work of one of his Master’s (MS.c) students.

He was on the verge of completing his research, and just about to test the anti-epileptic action of some natural plants he was monitoring. And after that, we would only be left with looking at the results and analysing them. But he was forced to suspend his research activities immediately the coronavirus pandemic broke out in the country, and forced all schools to be shut,” he noted.

Dr. Ekong said though he and his student experienced hiccups in their research work when the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) of UNIUYO branch embarked on an industrial action,  the subsequent closure of their university as a result of the lockdown compounded their ‘misery’.

“The stoppage of various research and teaching activities in UNIUYO started since the ASUU members downed their tools.It happened even before Federal Government and the state governments ordered everybody to stay at home. And ever since, all academic and research activities have been grounded. Only God knows when they will be activated again,” he concluded.

UNN

But the UNIUYO don was not the only researcher affected. Dr. Emmanuel Esom, another Senior Lecturer, but at the University of Nigeria (UNN), Enugu Campus, narrated how his doctoral student also suspended his research work, following the ‘unceremonious’ emergence of the lockdown, which halted important activities at tertiary institutions across the country.

Speaking to CAMPUSLIFE, Esom, a former Head of Department (HoD) of Anatomy Department in the premier Ivory Tower, disclosed: “My Ph.D. student would have completed his research work by now. Unfortunately, he has been stucked. The young man was carrying out a research on a plant extract which he characterised in Benue State. But due to the restriction of movement as a result of the lockdown, he could not travel to Benue to collect the sample of the extract to be used for laboratory experiment and test. We are hoping that by the time the lockdown is relaxed a bit, he will find a way to transport the needed sample down here, and continue his work.”

Esom, who maintained that research efforts without adequate funds will suffer, expressed dismay as to why food items, medical supplies and other essential products are imported into the country amid lockdown, but chemicals and other reagents are not.

He said the lockdown also frustrated the efforts of some of his colleagues who ordered for scientific supplies and other locally-sourced materials to complete their research works.

ABU, Zaria

As for Dr. Kaisan Muhammad Usman, who lectures at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, Kaduna State, the lockdown brought along some challenges that prevented him and a team of mechanical engineers from ABU Zaria and other sister tertiary institutions in the North, from quickly completing the fabrication of their 4-in-1 Automatic Sanitising Machine.

“The lockdown, like it affected countless scientists and researchers in Nigerian universities, also affected us. I and my team encountered minor challenges in the process of procuring, and swiftly transporting some of the materials we used to produce our sanitising machine,” he said.

Usman, who is the Head of Bio-fuels Engines and Emission Research Group in Mechanical Engineering Department, while strongly asserting that the COVID-19 lockdown negatively impacted on scientific research in the country, noted that some researchers find it difficult working conveniently in their homes because of distractions and non-access to some basic facilities.

He said: “But again, the stay-at-home order will not allow the researchers and some of us to go to our respective offices, laboratories or workshops. We all know that most designs, lab analyses and data computations require deep concentration and little or no distraction. So, how do we now expect to get the luxury of working in a conducive atmosphere and calm environment in times like these?”

According to Dr. Usman, those involved in the innovation of machines and other gadgets, especially engineers who have to first produce prototypes of machines, equipment and gadgets they intend to fabricate, will become handicapped without the working tools and raw materials, which can only be found in engineering workshops.

He described the situation as a “great setback” to research and innovation in the country, saying: “Equally, we also have a serious challenge in the area of procurement. Some materials and spare parts that used to be readily available, and essentially needed in the fabrication of a prototype are now difficult to procure. And it is because either the vendors are indoor due to lockdown, or the online trading merchant cannot ship them to the researcher’s country, as a result of the COVID-19 epidemic. Then, as our banks have also been closed, commercial transportation crippled, and other basic service scarce to get, how do one access funds, procure materials and deliver them to the supposed destination?”

UNICAL

On her part, Dr. Agnes Akudo Nwakanma, a trained anatomist from the University of Calabar (UNICAL), Cross Rivers State, said the COVID-19 crisis and subsequent closure of universities caught many scientists and researchers in the country off-guard.

She said: “Personally, I had started a research on “stress” with my students. We were to induce stress in experimental animals, and then study the effect on various parts of the brain and its functions. While the second part of the study was to investigate the ameliorative (or therapeutic) potentials of some herbs. This study was a very important study for me, because I have suffered stress and have experienced the neurological and other effects of stress. So, as a scientist, I needed to find simple solutions for stress.”

The female lecturer, who specialises in Neurobiology, Immunohistochemistry and Histology, however said the coronavirus lockdown, as well as ASUU’s nationwide strike, disrupted everything.

“The animals to be used for the study were already on ground and cannot be left to die. So, the students had to stay back and continue the work without supervision. So you can see that the aim of that study cannot be achieved. The lockdown made it worse, I cannot even go to school to do anything because I reside in Imo State, which is far from my university. I must also tell you that we have tissues that were to be sent to National hospital Abuja for analysis over a month ago, but because of the lockdown they are still in preservatives,” said Dr. Nwakanma, who is also the Examination Officer of Anatomy Department at the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University in Anambra State.

OOU

The story was also not different with Prof. Ahmed Adedeji of the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), in Ogun State.

Adedeji, a Professor of Pharmacology, said no thanks to the lockdown, some students’ research relating to animals and model flies have been suspended in their research unit.

“Other research teams working with us had to defer some of their activities too. An example is the studies on how to use herbs in the treatment of jaundice in childhood using animal model,” he said.

The pharmacology professor, who is also the Head of Future of Medicine, Science, Technology and Innovation Group (FoMSTIG) at OOU, said his students at the Neurophytotherapy Research Unit could not proceed on their phototherapeutic investigations on neurodevelopmental rodent models of human psychotic disorders.

This, he said, was because they could not move around freely to continue their daily administrations of interventions, as well as periodic neurobehavioural assessments of previous administrations made.

GSU

An academic exchange programme between Gombe State University (GSU), and a group of Chinese of scientists would have become a ‘done deal’, save for the lockdown in the country.

Prof. Adepoju Oluwasanumi, who disclosed this to CAMPUSLIFE in a phone interview, said talks about an agreement between their university and the Chinese scholars were concluded, since last October.

He stated that the outbreak of coronavirus in both China and Nigeria, forced plans for the programme to be suspended.

The Professor of Educational Research and Evaluation, added that though the online collaborations their university have with other tertiary institutions were not affected, the ones that have to do with travelling and physically being in other universities, were seriously affected, both locally and internationally.

His words: “The thing is, research activities, including collaborations with others, both locally and internationally will definitely key into the new way of doing things. That is less of physical interactions and more of e- interactions. Again, researchers, and research organisations must embrace the challenges posed by the lockdown, and explore adequately, some hidden opportunities. They must re-strategise to ensure that their research activities are still topical and relevant to the new realities, while not neglecting the possible impact of the new norms in the conduct of researches.”

UNILORIN

Weighing in on the issue, a Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Musa Toyin Yakubu, also agreed that research, innovation and academic advancement were all slowed down as a result of the lockdown.

“Some research had to be terminated while a host of others were suspended. These have led to wastage of investment. Because some of these experiments have to be repeated again from the beginning. Meaning additional costs will have to be incurred,” he said.

Prof. Yakubu, who is a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (FNSBMB), urged government to take advice offered by scientists.

“Britain, Sweden, Japan etc., are following advice from their scientific think tanks in formulating their responses to the pandemic. Our government must be proactive by emulating them,” he stressed.

By Ibraheem Abdullateef

The World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) was celebrated on Monday. Since 2006, the International Network for Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA) earmarked June 15 as a special day for advocacy for the welfare of the elders across the globe, raise awareness of elder abuse and highlight ways to stop such abuse.

The United Nations declared and recognised WEAAD as a global issue in 2011. According to the World Health Organisation, around 1 in 6 people, 60 years and above experienced some forms  of abuse in community settings during the past year. Although Nigeria has a youthful population, there are cases of abuse mostly in the Southeast against the elders, which are underreported or even unknown by the victims, due to lack of adequate knowledge.

Put simply, all forms of abuse against   old people are called  Elder abuse. This abuse comes in various ways but can be broadly categorised into physical, psychological or emotional, neglect and abandonment, financial, societal/cultural, and institutional. Apart from the sexual and physical forms which are less pronounced, old people in Nigeria suffer financial, societal, and institutional forms of abuse at one point or the other every other day.  Neglect by caregivers and the lackadaisical attitude of health workers as forms of abuse are disheartening.

Like rape, the effects of abuse on elders can be damaging. It includes physical injuries, extreme psychological consequences, abuse of rights, and loss of dignity. These are factors that could reduce a nation’s life expectancy.

For elder abuse advocacy to take off fully in the country, there should be adequate media reportage, strong awareness, among others just as it is done in other advanced countries.

However, to  make  the nation safer and life better for old people, there must be collaborative efforts. The government should put in place a national policy on the welfare of old people suiting the nation’s peculiarities. Also, the country’s  pension system should be more efficient at paying old and retired citizens. And for those not in the scheme, a relief   programme should be drafted to cater to their needs monthly.

The importance of quality awareness cannot be overemphasised. Many victims of abuse tend to be silent about it, while some are not even well educated about it. The media and civic groups can do better with advocacy. This also needs to be taken to secondary schools and higher institutions.  Alongside that, they can also help with caregiving intervention to offer support to the victims. Corporate and private companies may also include care for the old people in their social responsibility projects. Religious and traditional leaders shouldn’t be left behind, they should be  partners  in policy implementation and grassroots advocacy for the prevention of elder abuse in Nigeria.

• Ibraheem Abdullateef is a 200 level student of Mass Communication at Kwara State University, Malete.

By Fadeyi Elizabeth

In recent times and with the technological innovation that brought about the internet, smart phones and devices into Nigeria, youths have taken to the illict trade otherwise known as internet scam popularly known as Yahoo Yahoo. Thus, cybercrime continues to gain popularity despite the efforts of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other law enforcement agencies.

The  youth, who engage in the illegal trade,  become rich overnight and this is most common among  unemployed graduates and  under graduates.

After a seemingly endless search for white collar jobs, they become fed up and cease seeking legal means of livelihood. Hence, they resort to swindling people through the internet. Labour does not seem to have dignity anymore. That there is a lack of employment opportunities does not warrant engaging in cyber-fraud.

They see fraud as a way of surviving. They purchase  expensive cars, houses, jewelry and are often more highly respected than those with legal jobs,hence others join them because of their get-rich-quick mentality and love of filthy lucre. Hardworking youths are being scorned because they cannot compete with those who have taken to fraud.

Read Also: Tinubu: Nigerian youths lack skills for available jobs 

The rich ones among them are seen as role models by others who fancy their life styles and want to emulate them.

Many youths after getting admission into various higher institutions of learning, often forget their main aim and are being carried away by the life styles of the scammers and join them without realising what the future has in store for them.

It is not difficult to identify Yahoo Boys on campus. Their mode of dressing is a crucial factor in identifying them. They are often spiffy dressers, they live big on campus , live in  the most expensive houses or even estate and attend lectures at their convenient time;  ride expense cars.

They often move in groups and  flaunt their ill-gotten wealth. While some of their parents are aware and even support them, most parents don’t know how their wards are faring.

Once they drop out of school because of their lack of commitment, they face the ‘business’ and recruit apprentices to groom them and expand their network. They go to the extreme by seeking spiritual help to enhance their trade in what is tagged Yahoo Plus. Sadly, they also go as far as using their body parts, their partners’ or family members all in their quest to be rich.

It is most unfortunate that many Nigerian youths think that the only way to be financially independent and  successful is to swindle rich people,who are mostly foreigners. They believe they are ‘collecting their fore fathers money from the whites’. Therefore,they drag the name of the country into the mud.

• Fadeyi Elizabeth is a 300-Level MassCommunication student of The Polytechnic, Ibadan.